TRAUMA
psychologist Maarkedal trauma
Are you suffering from recurring, disturbing memories or reactions after a shocking event? As a psychologist in Maarkedal, I offer targeted help with trauma with EMDR, CBT and stabilization techniques. On this page you can read about recognition signs, treatment options and what you can do right away; make an appointment for an initial consultation or read on.
WHAT IS TRAUMA
There are different types of trauma:
‘Minor’ whether long-term/chronic trauma or not (which we often don't describe as trauma, but which can have a very negative effect on the way we think and live).
AND
Major acute one-time traumas or chronic trauma. If you experience a shocking event, you may suffer from it longer afterwards through post-traumatic stress symptoms.
e.g. when you have been through an accident, or when you have experienced (sexual) violence or lost someone close to you.
A shocking event can occur once or can also repeat itself as in the case of abuse!
Some people suffer very little after such a shocking event. Other people suffer more. It is difficult to predict which people will suffer.
In my description below, I focus mainly on the latter form of trauma.
With this, however, I NEVER want to minimize the importance of the form first cited. Quite the contrary! But the explanation here would lead me too far.
WHAT CAN YOU FEEL OR NOTICE IN POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS?
- Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
– Negative changes in thoughts and feelings (e.g. guilt)
- Exaggerated scare reactions
– feeling Irritable and having difficulty concentrating
- Continuously (or a lot) of thinking about or dreaming about the event
– Avoidance of thoughts, feelings, places or people that are reminiscent of the event.
HOW DOES POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS ARISE
When people experience a traumatic event, they may afterwards avoid situations that remind them of the event. We call this avoidance.
For example, someone who has experienced a robbery may not go back to the place where it happened. This is an understandable reaction because it makes you suffer less from anxiety and unpleasant thoughts.
But on long term period this avoidance behavior is harmful. In fact, it causes anxiety to persist and it may even increase.
We also see then people often have to remember the event without wanting to.
As a result, their fears keep becoming stronger.
By avoiding things and by constantly having anxious thoughts, you are making things more and more difficult for yourself. You don't get a chance to discover that the things you fear often don't happen at all. Suppose you are afraid of another robbery. If that makes you stop going to the store, you don't notice that nothing usually happens. So by avoiding, the problems get worse. Eventually, this can turn into post-traumatic stress disorder.
Shocking events are common. About 80 percent of people experience a shocking event. About 7 percent thereof develops a posttraumaticstress disorder. This can happen to anyone!
WHEN DO YOU NEED HELP?
Do you think continuously or very much about the shocking event?
Do you avoid situations that remind you of the event aside?
You need help when the problems obstruct you In your normal daily activities.
Are you doubting whether you need help? If so, discuss this with your doctor.
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AND/OR EMDR
Cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for PTSD and other trauma-related symptoms.
In addition EMDR also is an effective treatment method. To this end, I estimate with you what the best course of action is.
Your behaviors and thoughts perpetuate the traumatic symptoms.
During therapy, you will actively work on changing that. Everything happens step by step. As a client, you are an expert in yourself. I myself help you with the knowledge there is around trauma and that's how we get a long way.
First you get explanation about how PTSD works. You will learn why you keep getting the re-experiences and that that is unpleasant, but harmless.
Then we work, in all safety, together to process your memories. This on YOUR pace and within YOUR limits and carrying capacity!
TIPS
TIP 1: WRITE DOWN WHAT HAPPENED
If you have experienced something shocking, it may help you to note what happened.
e.g. after a car accident: It was 8 a.m. and I was driving on the E40 to work. The car in front of me suddenly slammed on the brakes. I pushed on my brakes, but it was too late. A huge bang followed.... etc.
When you write out the experience for yourself, you can also face under safe conditions and that helps with processing. Often we tend to discuss the event rather than write it down. This is less effective because people are often overwhelmed by their emotions while recounting. During conversation, the emotions then often become the subject of the conversation, and still not the event.
The write up instead of just discussing it really has a added value.
TIP 2 : SEEK SUPPORT FROM SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU
After you've implemented TIP 1, though, it may help to support seek support from those around you so that you can express your emotions. When you experience something shocking, it is important to be supported by those around you.
Find people you trust. Discuss with them what happened and express your tension and emotions.
TIP 3 : HOW TO HELP? REASSURE THE PERSON.
Is there someone close to you who has experienced something shocking? When someone has been through something shocking and it ended well, we tend to name and discuss what could not have happened and how serious the outcome could have been. When people around the victim react violently, it can lead to increasing the victim's anxiety.
It helps to give the person reassurance reassure, a offer a sympathetic ear and practical assistance should the need arise. Especially in the first six weeks, it is very important that the environment is available and accessible on an ongoing basis!
TIP 4 : HOW TO HELP? BRING UNDERSTANDING.
Our brains turn an incomplete story into a complete story. This is how our brains are put together. Even if the event ended well, your brain can still give the experience a negative rounding of what could have happened. That can create just as much tension as if the experience had actually turned negative.
You often see in people that this can lead to lack of understanding in the environment. Who then does not understand that someone is still bothered by an event that ended well.
So always try to be understanding to someone around you who is suffering from an intense event that ended well!
TIP 5 : UNWIND
When you have experienced something intense, it is good to rest It is important to resume your normal daily routine as soon as you can after experiencing something shocking. However, you need to give proper consideration to whether you can pick up the thread.
Take a good look at yourself and the ballast you have left. If you don't feel you can pick up normal life yet, don't do so. Most people sense for themselves when they can handle their usual daily routine again.
Text co-inspired by VGCT
If you would like to look further around the complaints you are experiencing, please feel free to give me a call using the button below
Back to the main page
Connected to practice SOLTA at Ename